The Sharks have complied with SA Rugby’s player rest requirements and Beast Mtawarira will thus enjoy a well-earned break, with Keegan Daniel leading the team out against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday.
Dale Chadwick starts his first game of the season in the number 1 jersey, partnering good friend Kyle Cooper and Lourens Adriaanse in a completely new front row. Lock Etienne Oosthuizen and Stephan Lewies start again, as do Daniel at 6 and Jean-Luc du Preez at 7. Daniel du Preez, fit again after missing the Highlanders clash last week, takes over at 8 from the injured Philip van der Walt.
Michael Claassens enjoys a start at scrumhalf in place of Cobus Reinach (also injured), while Garth April will wear the number 10 jersey for the second week running. Paul Jordaan is fit again and reclaims his number 13 jersey (with Andre Esterhuizen again at 12). JP Pietersen moves form centre to wing, with Odwa Ndungane moving to the bench. Lwazi Mvovo and Wille le Roux complete the back 3.
Changes on the bench see Coeine Oosthuizen in 18, Stefan Ungerer in 21 and Ndungane in 23 (in place of S’bura Sithole, who drops out).
Sharks:
15. Willie le Roux, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Paul Jordaan, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Garth April, 9. Michael Claassens, 8. Daniel du Preez, 7. Jean-Luc du Preez, 6. Keegan Daniel (C), 5. Stephan Lewies, 4. Etienne Oosthuizen, 3. Lourens Adriaanse, 2. Kyle Cooper, 1. Dale Chadwick
Replacements 16. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17. Thomas du Toit, 18. Coenie Oosthuizen, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Jean Deysel, 21. Stefan Ungerer, 22. Joe Pietersen, 23. Odwa Ndungane
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I’m not sure I understand why TdT isn’t starting…
Great to see Daniel as captain, though!
Probably last chance for Kyle to start a game at 2.
Well deserved break for Beast, sure he will be a different person when on the field again with a lot of go, and become the prop we know he is
I would have started Deysel and dupreez on flanks with daniel at 8. We will see a lot of turnover and handling errors with the youngsters again sad to say.
@coolfusion (Comment 4) : Maybe Gold wants that Deysel fire from the bench, especially with the Sharks losing a few game in the second half.
He sure wreaked havoc against the Landers in that second half, that pitch is still probably in recovery after the Deysel.
April at 10 is the selection I’m most enthused about. Cooper at 2 is the selection I’m most trepidatious about. The way he’s been throwing in of late, Damian McKenzie has about the same chance of catching the ball as Stefan Lewies…
I really dont get the S’bura Sithole situation. Am i missing something?
why does he not get an opportunity?
@Culling Song (Comment 6) : My sentiments exactly…
I think it’s a real pity that Deysel isn’t starting…JLdP has played a lot and deserves a rest…and Deysel was just so awesome last week…
I’d have given Willie a rest too…
I see the Bulls have won their game in Perth comfortably already…Jaco van Heerden was appointed to ref that game. Game over! 😀
@pastorshark (Comment 12) : that depends, as I think they might get out the pink cows this weekend again, and as we all know to well, he has a pair of blue blinkers on
Off topic completely but i just read that jason emery only got what equates to a 3 super rugby match ban for the ‘tackle’ on willie leroux. First thought – a complete farce. Considered a midrange offence? Given 2 weeks off for a good disaplinary record? His first or second super rugby match?
Nadalo got the same suspension for the spear against the brumbies. One was life threatening the other technically incorrect.
Am i the only one confused?
@byron (Comment 14) : If you look at what most NZ players get away with on a regular basis, that “good disciplinary record” also mean very little.
@Henkb (Comment 12) :
@Jeremiser (Comment 7) : Him and Heimar Williams
What’s up with the Sharks resorting to has been again.and as captain.really
Good luck Sharks!!!
@benji (Comment 18) : I thought this “has been” played well last Saturday…who would you choose as captain with Beast sitting out?
@pastorshark (Comment 20) : He never bothered to think that far….easier to find fault than it is to find solutions.
Someone needs to teach the twins to fetch,they big and strong and have worked on they ball retention now they need to work on they fetching skills. Very promising young players.sbura close to joining another union gold simply doesn’t rate him
I feel sorry for Lourens Adriaanse having those 2 clowns with him in the front row. Can’t see us having any scrum or lineout domination whatsoever 🙁
@Mephisto_Shark (Comment 22) : geez, really? I’m sorry, but that’s a pretty awful thing to say.
Interested to understand whether you’d call Dale and Kyle clowns to their faces? My guess is that the bravery probably doesn’t extend quite that far.
@Mephisto_Shark for a Sharks supporter thats a disgraceful thing to say. We dont need such “clowns” on this site with that crap attitude. The Cows will be happy to have you
@pastorshark (Comment 11) : If the bulls knew how to pick combos they would win the series by picking van her den and greef the rest of the team sheet won’t matter. ..
@Poisy (Comment 21) : And hold on to a ball. Other than that they are very exciting to watch. Just a little more time….
Dale does seem a bit weak at scrum time. Coenie at loose and Adriaanse at tight would have probably been a bit better. Kyle is a yoyo still neither up or down. I wish he would get sorted out he is good at stealing ball and carrying when he gets his game right he is exactly the injection the forwards need.
@coolfusion (Comment 27) : Cooper has never quite been the same since JW.
Get his confidence sorted, and we’ll have the Cooper that unseated Burden.
@robdylan (Comment 23) : @Fox (Comment 24) : ja although I would have loved to see Thomas and Chili start it’s not on to degrade to calling the other players “clowns”!
@coolfusion (Comment 27) : @FireTheLooser (Comment 28) : sorry to say but Cooper needs to sort out his lineout work otherwise he can not be considered as a top class hooker!
@FireTheLooser (Comment 28) : Agreed. Hence my comment.
@coolfusion (Comment 25) : 😆
@Jeremiser (Comment 7) : @jdolivier (Comment 16) : I agree.
We’re going to play Esterhuizen into the ground! Has he missed a game yet?
For me Sithole is the best defensive centre in the country and his attacking abilities are great. He just needs to learn to distribute more instead of taking contact.
I also rate Heimar Williams and I’d like to know why we aren’t using him more. He’s a Conrad Smith or Dick Muir kind of player in that he creates opportunities for those around him.
Do the coaches have something against these guys or are they scared to rotate out the first choice players in case they lose a game?
@Culling Song (Comment 6) : I think that Cooper will surprise you and have a great game this weekend. We know that he has the talent, all he needs now is his self-belief back. Man-management by the coaches is the key here!
@pastorshark (Comment 9) : @Poisy (Comment 21) : The twins definitely need a break.
This is a big step up for them and they’ve played amazingly well but it’s a tough competition and the faitgue could also be a reason that their ball retention isn’t always what it should be. We get tired after a few weeks of club rugby…imagine how exhausted they must feel playing at that level week in and week out.
We have the loose forward depth so we should rotate the squad (follow the example of the Lions, Highlanders and Chiefs) and keep everybody fresh and keep the competition for places going!
The old brain is trying to think the Sharks into a win…variables, logic, common sense, history, statistics. And the truth be told, it would not make a great deal of sense for the Sharks to win 2 whole games down in Mordor, especially against the current champions and past champions, especially 2 in a row. However, I account for the fact that barely a living thing in the Antipodes gave the Sharks half a chance last week, and we know how that ended. Let the professional scribes give it to the Chiefs already…it’s so nice when they get to eat their words. And besides, the Sharks’ attack has to come right some time, and it may well be this match. Wouldn’t that be awesome! And since we’re not talking about the ref, how do the Bulls wangle a referee that is from their own union’s referee structures? Should they win, wouldn’t there be massive complaining about bias?
@SeanJeff (Comment 36) : MORDOR, lol.
@coolfusion (Comment 37) : How’s the photoshop project coming along?
@Fox (Comment 24) : Weh ……. same answer as above, to cherry pick clown as the taboo ‘shocking’ word is silly. Your knee jerk reaction supports that.
Some interesting selections indeed.
I really like the fact that they have given the captains armband to Keegan while Beast is being rested, from what I saw in the past I think he is a good leader that can rally the troops when necessary.
Interesting front row choices and will be good to see how they go.
I have no problem with the backline and think it is the best we have at the moment (including the bench!), the only issue would be with rotation and who needs resting and then when to do it and who then to bring in. I fully agree that Heimar be brought in when Eesterhuizen needs a rest and Sbu for the wings, or even Jordaan.
Think the bench has a real opportunity to make an impact here. Good luck boys
@ChrisS (Comment 33) : Sithole as best defensive centre in the country is a brave call…
@ChrisS (Comment 33) : @pastorshark (Comment 41) : 100% agree on Heimar but Sithole has potential but still needs a lot of work. Currently Jordaan is a great defender and Sithole will struggle to displace him in the starting team.
I see the Chiefs are feeling the heat after their questionable scrum tactics against the Canes.
Could be just the distraction that could play to the Sharks advantage.
@pastorshark (Comment 41) : Sometimes I make those brave calls 😎
@ChrisS (Comment 44) : I firmly believe it though. He’s a brilliant tackler and reads the play well from 13.
It’s a great choice to rest Beast and make Keegan captain for this game, it would do Beast good to take a breather and be out of the lime light for a week. All I wonder is who Mallet is going to bitch and moan about this week?
Im not too sure what i think about this selection as a whole but definitely good players there. From a technical point of view im just not sure how much scrum/lineout work this tight 5 has done as a unit, could mean their timing is off. Also Chadwick is a tall LH scrumming next to a short hooker and short TH…could lead to him hinging a bit. Bit concerning that Esterhuizen plays again- there dont seem to be any other trusted options at 12 until he breaks down. Its a bit harsh on Sithole but Gold seems to be sticking by his pecking order…perhaps Rob DuPreez doesnt rate Sithole?
@SheldonK (Comment 47) : Andre is the only 12 on tour so he will have to play. Hope he gets rested for the Canes and Argie tour.
@JD (Comment 48) : No look i fully understand that. But my comment about it is only highlighted by the fact that we only took one guy that can play 12 on tour. He has played every minute of every much so far i think, thats crazy.
@SheldonK (Comment 49) : Jordaan can shift to 12 if necessary. They could have gone for 12 Jordaan, 13 JPP, 14 Odwa with Sithole on the bench.
@ChrisS (Comment 33) : I think everything Gold does currently is a double edged sword. Pick the young guys and lose, then we lambaste him with criticism. Pick the “older” guys and lose then we slaughter him for not being brave. Not a Gold fan, would not however want to be in his shoes this season. Andre is still young and could handle a full season easily, as long as it doesn’t become a habit.
@Bokhoring (Comment 50) : Look i think thats very possible. But the Sharks management seem very reluctant to play anyone else at 12, evidenced by the fact that they only took Esterhuizen on tour and the only other guy that played 12 in preseason- Deysel is no longer at the Union.
I’m starting to get concerned with how little rugby some of the squad has played. When was the last time Sithole got a run anywhere? There are others. They are going to be seriously undercooked when they are finally called upon.
@jdolivier (Comment 51) : not sure Andre will last the whole season (especially the way he plays) if he does not get a rest.
@Bokhoring (Comment 50) : @SheldonK (Comment 52) : I personally think Andre needs to rest next week and should also skip the Argie trip. However I highly doubt that it will happen.
@JD (Comment 55) : i agree. Id also add Beast to that list. And LeRoux to the no Arg trip list.
@SheldonK (Comment 56) : yes for sure, just can’t see Gold doing it?!
@JD (Comment 57) : Yeh think you could be right. He does seem fairly conservative in selection unless forced to change through injury etc.
@JD (Comment 55) : if he does more of those sbw offloads like he did last weekend , i dont mind him playing every game
@shrodingers cat (Comment 59) : regardless of how good he is he needs to rest some games. No player can play every game all game week in and week out especially if they play fiscally like he does!
@SheldonK (Comment 58) : look I know he has a difficult job and it’s very difficult to please the public and your boss but I do think he maybe missed one or two chances to rotate players and give other players game time. But like I said it’s a hard job and at the end of it all it’s his head that’s on the block if they finish anywhere near last years log position.
@robdylan (Comment 23) : So someone should be to afraid of physical violence to use their right to freedom of speech and make a criticism? This isn’t North Korea mate. Nor is it garde 1 with the ‘say that to their face’ comment.
@Nostraseth (Comment 62) : Oh my word… Are you serious? Freedom of speech does not mean freedom of consequences. Here is a helpful guide.
https://xkcd.com/1357/
@Nostraseth (Comment 62) : Dude, never in that comment was it mentioned that it would turn into physical violence, the shear fact of going up to any one, never the least two big blokes like that, and calling them clowns in their faces would let most people think twice about doing it, without it turning violent, it is very easy to say something like that on a mail / phone call / sms, but not to a persons [email protected]gregkaos (Comment 63) : spot on
@Nostraseth (Comment 62) : freedom of speech does not give you the right to call someone a clown just because you don’t like or rate them as players (that is unless they actually work as a clown)! As for the grade 1 comment I personally believe that you should not say (or post) something about another person that you are not willing to say to them face to face but that’s just me if you’re OK with keyboard warriors talking shit about people while hiding behind their computer screens that’s your constitutional right but it does not mean that me or other must feel the same as it our constitutional right and we have the freedom of speech to tell them that we don’t like it!
@gregkaos (Comment 63) : Well put.
@gregkaos (Comment 63) : well said!
@Henkb (Comment 64) : @FireTheLooser (Comment 66) : it’s just strange how people who proclaim “freedom of speech” reacts when others use that very same right to say something that they might not like to hear.
@JD (Comment 67) : very true, freedom of speech goes both ways, and the assumption that was made about physical violence is not always the case, it take genuine guts to call somebody some name to their face, or absolute rage
@JD (Comment 67) : The play-pen section hanging around here, seems to be wholly disconnected from how life works.
Lots of regulars staying away these days, and I can’t blame them.
@Henkb (Comment 68) : ja like you said it takes guts but for me it also shows what you’re made of. If you’re not willing to say to my face what you say about me behind my back I really don’t want you in my life.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 69) : hahaha ja boet. Personally I have mostly decided to just ignore them but every now and then I just have to reply to their comments!
@JD (Comment 70) : True, I would rather have someone say to me what they think of me to my face, as then I know where I stand with [email protected]FireTheLooser (Comment 69) : I just get the feeling that some guys don’t exactly understand the proper way to read someone else comments, and I do try and avoid commenting on them, but some of them just gets under your skin
Here is to our team on the day of tomorrow, may they be the team that they are and kick some ASS 😈 ❗ ❗
@Henkb (Comment 73) : Go Sharks!!!
@gregkaos (Comment 63) :
Interestingly that cartoon refers to the “1st amendment” (of the US constitution) which does not apply here. In South African it seems the constitution actually restrict freedom of speech in certain areas:
from wikipedia:
Section 16 contains the following limitations to freedom of expression “The right in subsection (1) does not extend to propaganda for war; incitement of imminent violence; or advocacy of hatred that is based on race, ethnicity, gender or religion, and that constitutes incitement to cause harm.”
In contrast the 1st amendment defines no limitations:
Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Restrictions in the USA are as pointed out in the cartoon, are mostly via the ability of others to shun or shame the speaker.
Wow. The initial statement and reaction to it are both immature. Participating in this only brings you down to that level. I vote we all let it go and discuss rugby.
@JD (Comment 61) : Yeh pretty accurate comment that
Personally I have never said anything on the Internet I wouldn’t be perfect happy to say to someones face. Also sure violence was not directly referred to, but ‘say it to their face’ is the implication that you’d be to scared to because of a violent reaction. Also at no point did I agree with what he said, although I do think it’s ridiculous that all of a sudden ‘clowns’ is a super taboo word. My argument stems from the fact that if you have new commentors making perfectly valid comments, that don’t break any site rules, only to immediately be jumped on by the site owner for having an opinion that’s not his, well that is not conducive to a healthy discussion environment.
@Nostraseth (Comment 78) : There is a difference between healthy discussions between people of different opinions and derogatory comments. That comment that was made was clearly a personal dislike of the players and thats fair enough but at least could have used some tact in voicing it.
@SheldonK (Comment 79) : I wouldn’t say it was obviously personal at all? Some people aren’t as good at articulating their opinion and that needs to be accepted. This all started because he used the word ‘clowns’ while maybe not the best choice of word, only he himself knows what he intended the word to mean, be it personal or simply a dislike of their rugby.
@Nostraseth (Comment 78) : Where do you get the feeling that “clown” is a super taboo word? I did not see Rob delete the comment or ban the poster. He responded by saying that was an awful thing to say which it certainly was. It was not criticism either. It was an insult.
Maybe you haven’t experienced this but when someone is rude, obnoxious, and generally unpleasant, the others around tend to react to said person in a negative manner.
Thing is you can be an ass if you like, but there are consequences.
@Nostraseth (Comment 80) : I think it was pretty obvious was was meant by the term ‘clowns’. There has been so much negativity towards the Sharks players and management recently that i really question whether people are still supporters or just cynics.
Can’t please all of the people all of the time. I err on the side of trying to please those who are nice to me (and nice to the team). I’m only human, after all.
The Simpsons World, now featuring Krusty the Clown and Sideshow Bob.
Relax people, deep down we are all clowns.
@Nostraseth (Comment 78) : if you can remember there was a request made last year that we must not be abusive (or use derogatory language) towards players if we don’t like them because their family might read the site. Calling someone a clown falls directly into that category.
lineout good, scrums good, lots of contributions in broken play.
Maybe we should have picked the clown brothers a little sooner?